Rays Top Orioles, 5-1 to Hold onto Wild Card Lead

Tom Szczerbowkski/Getty Images(ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.) — With the regular season nearing it’s end, the Tampa Bay Rays are getting closer and closer to clinching a playoff spot after defeating the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 on Saturday.

Rays’ starting pitcher Alex Cobb continues to pitch well for the team. Against the Orioles, Cobb pitched 8.1 innings and gave up just one earned run while striking out 12 batters. He’s now 10-3 on the season.

On offense, outfielder Desmond Jennings carried the Rays. He went 2-3 on the day with a home run as well as a triple as he drove in four runs.

For the Orioles, starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez did all he could to keep his team in the game as he pitched 6.0 innings.

With less than 10 games to go for each team, each win or loss is crucial.

With the win, the Rays now hold the top spot in the Wild Card standings. If the Orioles want to make the playoffs, they’ll have to jump four teams in the standings.